It’s time to change the narrative on the negative portrayal of vets and vet teams across the media and social media channels. The British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) new campaign is reminding the public about the incredible work you deliver daily to help pets and their owners, support our farmers, facilitate international trade, ensure food security and tackle disease threats.
Here’s how you can get involved:
What? The campaign is focused on storytelling, sharing real stories and experiences. It spotlights the important work vets do day to day, not only protecting the welfare of the nation’s pets but also the role they play in society, from supporting our farmers and food production, through to supporting international trade, disease control and public health.
We need your help. We want to hear from vets and vet practices around the UK so we can show how brilliant our veterinary professionals are by sharing case studies with the media and through our social channels.
We want to highlight the day-to-day but vital care given by vets as well as the challenging emergencies, heartwarming stories and community initiatives that can help and inspire so much good. It’s not about finding superheroes, the stories can be about the everyday work vets do in practice, on the farm or in the yard. It doesn’t need to be technical, just relatable so that the average person on the street can understand the amazing work vets do.
We are looking for:
- Cases where vets have helped animals in their care. For example, this story of vets based in St Helen’s who removed a wooden skewer from inside a dog in a life-saving operation.
- Practices / or vet teams that are willing open their doors to the media so they can gain a broader more nuanced understanding of veterinary medicine.
- Vets who would be willing to share their personal experiences, both on the record and anonymously, of being a vet. For example, this story in the Daily Telegraph.
- Clients who are happy to share their own positive vet care experiences
What we need
- For case studies, email CharlotteAH@BVA.co.uk or media@bva.co.uk including:
- Name, location and contact details of the vet / vet practice
- A few sentences outlining the case – what species of animal? what was the issue? where did it happen? how it was solved? what was the outcome for the animal and client.
- Get permission from clients to feature their animal’s story in our communications work.
- Share any photos of the animal looking happy and healthy, plus any images that illustrate the issues – so x-rays, pictures of foreign bodies etc.
- For practice or individual vet’s willing to share their experiences, email CharlotteAH@bva.co.uk or media@bva.co.uk with their name, practice, specialism and / or sector, and contact details.
Get involved
If you want to hear more about this campaign and find out how you can get involved contact Charlotte Austen-Hardy at BVA via CharlotteAH@bva.co.uk or media@bva.co.uk